Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Lieut.-General U.S. Grant
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1865
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Length X ft; Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Off the harbor entrance at Pentwater, Lake Michigan
- Coordinates: Not recorded
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Lieut.-General U.S. Grant was a typical mid-19th-century wooden schooner designed for bulk freight service across the Great Lakes. Schooners like this were commonly used in the lumber trade, carrying sawn wood and timber from Michigan ports to urban markets like Chicago.
Description
The vessel was built in 1865 and registered under the United States flag. It was primarily engaged in transporting wood, a common cargo for schooners of that era.
History
On September 18, 1878, the Lieut.-General U.S. Grant was outbound from Pentwater, Michigan, carrying a cargo of wood bound for Chicago. While attempting to exit the harbor, the schooner encountered a storm and stranded off the harbor entrance.
Despite calling for tugs, the situation deteriorated rapidly. The vessel was wrecked, and two lives were lost in the incident. The exact circumstances—whether the tugs failed to reach her in time or conditions made salvage impossible—are not fully detailed in existing records.
Significant Incidents
- Loss of life: 2
Final Disposition
The vessel was wrecked near the harbor entrance at Pentwater and was declared a total loss. The site is not presently documented as an active dive location, but its proximity to shore suggests potential for future shallow-water survey.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck site is not currently an active dive location, and specific conditions of the wreck are not documented.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”lieut-general-u-s-grant-1865″ title=”References & Links”]
The Lieut.-General U.S. Grant serves as a reminder of the perils faced by mariners in the Great Lakes during the 19th century. Its wreck offers potential for future exploration and study.
Legacy Notes & Full Historical Record
This section preserves the original unedited Shotline content for this wreck so that no historical detail is lost as we transition to the new logbook format.
WRECK SUMMARY
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Length: Not specified
- Loss of Life: 2
- Location: Off the harbor entrance at Pentwater, Lake Michigan
- GPS: Not recorded
- Depth: Unknown (likely shallow)
IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION
- Vessel Name: Lieut.-General U.S. Grant
- Type: Wooden sailing schooner
- Built: 1865
- Flag/Registry: United States
- Date of Loss: September 18, 1878
- Final Resting Place: Stranded off Pentwater Harbor, Lake Michigan
- Cargo at Time of Loss: Wood
- Casualties: 2 lives lost
VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION
The Lieut.-General U.S. Grant was a typical mid-19th-century wooden schooner designed for bulk freight service across the Great Lakes. Schooners like this were commonly used in the lumber trade, carrying sawn wood and timber from Michigan ports to urban markets like Chicago.
HISTORY
On September 18, 1878, the Lieut.-General U.S. Grant was outbound from Pentwater, Michigan, carrying a cargo of wood bound for Chicago. While attempting to exit the harbor, the schooner encountered a storm and stranded off the harbor entrance.
Despite calling for tugs, the situation deteriorated rapidly. The vessel was wrecked, and two lives were lost in the incident. The exact circumstances—whether the tugs failed to reach her in time or conditions made salvage impossible—are not fully detailed in existing records.
FINAL DISPOSITION
Wrecked near the harbor entrance at Pentwater. The vessel was a total loss. The site is not presently documented as an active dive location, but its proximity to shore suggests potential for future shallow-water survey.
REFERENCES & LINKS
- David Swayze Shipwreck File
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes – www.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca
- Great Lakes Ships – Bowling Green State University
- GreatLakesShips.org